With a farm and stables on site, Milton Abbey School in Dorset offers unique opportunities to learn from animals and the land
Milton Abbey offers rare and exciting opportunities to get up close to animals and nature and build knowledge and skills along the way. Located in Milton Abbas, in an idyllic location with grounds designed by Capability Brown, it has a working farm and stables on site, home to a wonderful variety of resident animals. “Pupils regularly care for and interact with sheep, chickens, cows, goats, an alpaca, stick insects, and our cheeky mini-Shetland ponies, alongside riding-school horses and ponies,” says Director of Land Based Studies Charles Burnham-Slipper.
As well as this wonderful menagerie on the farm, across the boarding houses there are also many different breeds of dogs and two much-loved cats. The team here says it all helps to create a warm and lively community for pupils – also a home from home feel.
“Pupils deepen understanding through practical activities, exploring topics including animal husbandry, biodiversity and sustainability”
There are valuable lessons in being given access to the farm. Students have regular and structured opportunities to interact with animals through both timetabled activities and enrichment provision. “Every Friday afternoon, as part of our Round Square programme, we run a Land Based Studies club where students visit the school farm to engage directly with animal care,” says Charles Burnham-Slipper.
“This includes practical animal husbandry, such as grooming, feeding, and supporting general welfare checks, alongside opportunities to spend time observing and building confidence around the animals in a calm, supervised environment.”
Milton Abbey offers exceptional opportunities for keen and aspiring riders. Students can access equestrian provision through the ”Sport Every Day’ programme, with horse riding available for all abilities. Those who bring their own horses, which are stabled on site, get regular coaching and development sessions. A partnership with Dorset Polo Club provides weekly coaching and, for more experienced riders, instructional chukkas that develop advanced horsemanship skills.
There’s no doubt, say the team, that pupils respond incredibly positively to having animals around. Their presence creates a calm, welcoming atmosphere and offers valuable opportunities to pause, connect and unwind. To mark this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week, there was an animal therapy session at the Health Centre. The mini-Shetland ponies and school pony Rooney visited, alongside Equine students, so everybody had the opportunity to groom, cuddle and spend time relaxing and de-stressing after a day of exams.
Milton Abbey is a full boarding school, so the dogs are a familiar and comforting presence across boarding houses to support pupils through good and bad days and offer company – also creating that feeling of being at home. They also bring great exercise opportunities. Dog walking sessions through the Dorset countryside are an opportunity to spend time outdoors, connect with animals, chat with friends and support the school value of service to the community.
Pupils form strong bonds with the animals in their care, which helps nurture responsibility, compassion and resilience. “Working with horses encourages pupils to be present, patient and empathetic. It has a remarkable effect on both confidence and emotional wellbeing,” notes Equine Teacher Amber Da Silva.
Animal encounters are carefully embedded into both the academic and co-curricular curriculum. In subjects such as Biology, Environmental Science and Geography, pupils deepen their understanding through real-life observation and practical activities, exploring topics including animal husbandry, ecology, conservation, biodiversity and sustainability. Working within the surrounding countryside also helps pupils understand food provenance, habitat management and the relationship between humans and the natural world.
Learning at Milton Abbey is deliberately experiential. Pupils care for animals daily through feeding, grooming, mucking out and carrying out basic health checks, while also taking part in activities such as vegetable growing, hedge and tree planting, wildlife monitoring and habitat improvement. These experiences encourage curiosity, responsibility and environmental awareness, while also supporting teamwork, confidence and personal wellbeing. The team point out that when young people can relate classroom learning back to real experiences with animals and nature, it deepens understanding and enthusiasm.
This close connection with animals is celebrated throughout the year through a range of special events, including open days, taster days and equestrian showcases. A particularly memorable event is the school’s Harvest Festival, celebration, when animals join a Sunday Chapel Service outside the School Farm.
“Surrounded by animals and the sights and sounds of the farm, the service becomes a joyful, hands-on moment of reflection and gratitude. It also brings our school community together in a really special way, as pupils and staff share the experience side by side, enjoying the outdoors and feeling part of something shared and meaningful,” says Charles Burnham-Slipper.
Pupil voice reflects the enduring value of these experiences. As one pupil noted “One of my favourite lessons is Equine. I love this lesson because I am able to be around animals, which I love, and be able to have the opportunity to take a practical GCSE.” Whether Milton Abbey pupils are keen to take their experience with animals further, via Land Based or Equine Studies, or simply enjoy their company, there’s no doubt farm life and the added bonus of dogs and cat companions around the school adds something special.
“Animals are not an add-on to school life, they are part of its heartbeat, shaping a calm, connected and deeply enriching educational environment, for all to enjoy,” adds Milton Abbey’s Charles Burnham-Slipper.
Milton Abbey School miltonabbey.co.uk
Further reading: Hurst College is riding high
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